Rashid Khan sets sights on jaw-dropping 1000-wicket milestone in T20 cricket
Published - 08 Feb 2025, 03:48 PM | Updated - 08 Feb 2025, 03:51 PM
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Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s spin wizard and T20I captain, has already cemented his legacy as one of the finest bowlers the world has ever seen in the shorter format of the game. Rashid Khan is just 26 years old, but he has already achieved a lot despite coming from a not-so-famous cricket-playing nation.
The leg-spinner has so far represented the Afghanistan National Cricket Team in 6 Tests, 111 ODIs, and 96 T20Is, taking 45, 198, and 161 wickets, respectively. Apart from international cricket, Rashid is a household name across the globe, playing in every franchise-based league.
Rashid Khan sets sight on incredible 1000-wicket milestone in T20 cricket
With 633 wickets in 461 matches, Rashid has already surpassed West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo to become the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket. He is undoubtedly the most successful spinner in the formats, but his dreams are much bigger than whatever he has so far achieved.
Actually, Rashid Khan has set his sights on an extraordinary milestone of reaching a mind-blowing 1000-wicket feat in T20 cricket. For the Afghan spin wizard, it’s not just about numbers, but it’s about creating history and achieving something extraordinary to be remembered for life.
Rashid Khan was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo, “That's the target (breaching the 1000-wicket barrier). It's going to be massive to get 1000 wickets. Yeah, if I'm fit and I'm doing well, that's something that will be the biggest achievement to take: 1000 wickets in T20s.”
Rashid Khan aims to set a new world record in the next 3-4 years
However, the Afghanistan captain admitted that his dream is not easy at all, but he hopes that he will be able to maintain his peak fitness and continue his relentless dominance on the field to achieve that four-digit mark in T20 cricket.
Rashid further went on to make a bold statement that he can reach this colossal milestone in the next three to four years if his fitness and form are maintained. Notably, he is set to lead MI Cape Town in the SA20 2025 final against Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Saturday, February 8.
The Afghan star further noted, “And I can only just think about it, how good it would be and how it will be to have those four digits of wickets. That's something that is going to be unbelievable. But yes, hopefully, hopefully I'm fit. I feel like if I (continue to) play the cricket I've been playing for the next three-and-a-half-to-four years, I feel like I can get there.”
You totally deserve all this: Dwayne Bravo on Rashid Khan breaking his T20 feat
Rashid also revealed that Dwayne Bravo called him after he broke the former West Indies all-rounder’s incredible T20 record. He signed off by saying, “He was so happy and said, ‘(I know) you are the one who (would) break this record. You totally deserve all this." He's always been very supportive, and we had some great times when he was Afghanistan bowling coach.”
Notably, Rashid will next be seen in action for Afghanistan in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19. Afghanistan will open its ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against South Africa on February 21 at the National Stadium in Karachi.
